We are sad to announce that the distinguished astronomer and broadcaster Sir Patrick Moore passed away peacefully at 12.25pm this afternoon, at his home in Selsey, at the age of 89. After a short spell in hospital last week, it was determined that no further treatment would benefit him, and it was his wish to spend his last days in his own home, Farthings, where he today passed on, in the company of close friends and carers and his cat Ptolemy.

Over the past few years, Patrick, an inspiration to generations of astronomers, fought his way back from many serious spells of illness and continued to work and write at a great rate, but this time his body was too weak to overcome the infection which set in, a few weeks ago. He was able to perform on his world record-holding TV Programme “The Sky at Night’ right up until the most recent episode. His executors and close friends plan to fulfil his wishes for a quiet ceremony of interment, but a farewell event is planned for what would have been Patrick’s 90th birthday in March 2013.

Patrick’s executors do not wish to make any further statement for the time being, but are setting up a website for well-wishers to post tributes to Patrick:

Queen member Brian May, a close friend of Sir Patrick Moore, and along with astrophysicist Chris Lintott co-author of two books with Sir Patrick, ‘Bang! The Complete History of the Universe’ and most recently, ‘The Cosmic Tourist’, has posted his own personal message, which can be be viewed at his website: www.brianmay.com

In his message, May refers to Sir Patrick as ‘a dear friend and a kind of father figure to me,’ and paid tribute to Sir Patrick writing:

‘Patrick will be mourned by the many to whom he was a caring uncle, and by all who loved the delightful wit and clarity of his writings, or enjoyed his fearlessly eccentric persona in public life.

‘Patrick is irreplaceable. There will never be another Patrick Moore. But we were lucky enough to get one.’